Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Hunsaker Craig E
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/03/2011		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NUVASIVE INC [NUVA]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
7475 LUSK BLVD		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP, Global Human Resources
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

SAN DIEGO, CA 92121		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 3,190
D
 
Common Stock 15,000 (1)
D
 
Common Stock 8,000 (2)
D
 
Common Stock 5,000 (3)
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (4) 02/19/2020 Common Stock 20,000 $ 29.95 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Hunsaker Craig E
7475 LUSK BLVD
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121		       SVP, Global Human Resources  

Signatures

/s/ Jason Hannon, Attorney-In-Fact 01/05/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents an award of Restricted Stock Units that began vesting in 4 equal annual installments beginning on August 1, 2009.
(2) Represents an award of restricted stock units that vest in 4 equal annual installments beginning on February 1, 2011.
(3) Represents an award of restricted stock units that vest in 4 equal annual installments beginning on August 1, 2011.
(4) 25% of the total shares subject to the option will vest on February 19, 2011 which is the first anniversary of the date of grant; the remaining shares vest in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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